Monday, May 18, 2009

END Don't Ask/Don't Tell!

By saying three words to you today - "I am gay" - those three words are in violation of Title 10 of the U.S. code. It’s a code that is polluted by the people who want us to lie… it’s an immoral code that goes against every single thing that we were taught at West Point with our honor code.

A month and a half after Lt. Daniel Choi said those words on The Rachel Maddow Show, he received a letter formally kicking him out of the Army National Guard. Lt. Choi is a West Point grad, an Iraq war vet and Arabic translator, but none of that mattered to the Don't Ask Don't Tell folks in the Defense Department. My question is this: how many more people are we going to kick out of the military because of this ridiculous policy?

Choi is certainly not the first. But here's the thing - we now have a President who has said he opposes the policy and wants to see it ended. As Commander In Chief, he has the authority to do just that - end it! Will Obama keep his promise?

I just signed a Courage Campaign petition to President Obama urging him to do the right thing - to do what he said he would do. He can stop the discharge of Lt. Choi and other LGBT soldiers. You can sign the petition too and you can helo make a difference! The Courage Campaign will deliver the petition to the president -- that's why it is important that as many people as possible speak out right now. CLICK HERE is you are willing to sign too! You can also order a shirt if you like (the money will go to help end DADT) by clicking HERE. And tell your friends!

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